Town planning guidance published for consultation

10 August 2012

Guidance which will help preserve the quality and distinct character of different areas of St Helier has been released for consultation.

This new draft supplementary planning guidance describes the key characteristics of different parts of town and, based on the assessment of what makes each area distinct, provides advice about the type of design and development that is likely to be acceptable in each area.

If adopted, it will provide a framework for the assessment of the design aspects of planning applications and future development proposals in St Helier. It sets out some design principles for development in town and it also provides detailed guidelines for each of the 10 character areas identified and defined for St Helier.

Valuable tool

The Minister for Planning and Environment, Deputy Rob Duhamel, said “I think this will be valuable in helping to deliver high quality design in the town that respects the essential character of different parts of St Helier. Not only will it help to protect the special character of St Helier, it can also help developers and architects by providing them with more certainty about what is likely to be acceptable and what is not.”

The new design guidance is based on work by planning and urban design consultants, Willie Miller Urban Design, which was published in 2005. It has been revised, updated and extended to provide more detailed guidance for the area of the Esplanade, as well as offering further clarification about how the new Island Plan policy for tall buildings will be applied in the town.

Consultation period

Deputy Duhamel says increasing attention is being paid to the development potential of the town to meet the Island’s strategic development requirements. He says these requirements, including housing needs and the potential change likely as more development in and around the Esplanade and the St Helier Waterfront ripple through the existing fabric of the town, mean that it is important and timely that specific design guidance for St Helier is introduced.

The guidelines are in draft and provide an opportunity to comment on all aspects of their content. The consultation period will last for 6 weeks, ending on 21 September 2012.